Recovering from an addiction, whether it's to methamphetamine or shopping, might not feel like a joyous process to people in the early stages of reclaiming their lives.

But consider the alternative.

"When you're clouded in addiction, you're not dancing to any music," says Barbara Nicholson-Brown, 54, of Scottsdale. "Life is somber and dark and very painful."

Alcohol-free for more than 16 years now, she learned how quickly days could become bright again.

"You're given another shot at life, and that is a time to celebrate," says Nicholson-Brown, organizer with her husband, Bill Brown, of the free Art of Recovery Expo. It will be held Saturday at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Bill Brown, 64, has been sober for 17 years. He and Barbara publish Arizona Together, a monthly newspaper about recovering from addiction.

They call recovery an "art" because it involves learning new skills and celebrating the positive outcomes.

"Just like there's an art to being a great musician, there's an art to being a good human being," Nicholson-Brown says.

The expo will share lessons in the steps needed to reach that state, based on organizers' and participants' belief that addiction is a treatable disease.

"Relapse does happen," Nicholson-Brown says. "What we need to do is learn how to love and support people who want to recover, but not to enable them."

Her younger sister understood that balance, telephoning Nicholson-Brown, who had been drinking for years to the point of blacking out, and saying, "If you don't get help, I'm out of your life."

"I believe it was divine intervention." Nicholson-Brown says today. "I heard that for the first time, and I made a commitment to her. It was the first commitment I ever made in my life to anything."

Expo guests will hear other stories of recovery, including that of William Cope Moyers, former CNN and Newsday reporter and son of PBS commentator Bill Moyers.

William Cope Moyers was treated for addictions to alcohol and crack cocaine at the Hazelden Foundation of Minnesota, where he now serves as vice president of external affairs. His book, Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption (Viking, 2006, $25.95 hardcover), will be released Sept. 21.

Another highlight of the second annual expo will be audience-participation performances by Cirque du Monde, the social-action arm of Cirque du Soleil that uses circus skills to build self-esteem and teach youths the value of cooperating and making good decisions.

"There's so much shame and embarrassment about addiction," Nicholson-Brown says. "It's a disease people want to hide from. But why shouldn't we talk about recovery and all the different ways we can find help?"



Reach the reporter at connie.midey@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8120.